Relationship Dynamics and Social Life (RDSL) Study [Genesee County, Michigan], 2008-2012 [Restricted-Use] (ICPSR 36565)

Time Period(s) View help for Time Period(s)

Date of Collection View help for Date of Collection

Data Collection Notes View help for Data Collection Notes

Study Purpose View help for Study Purpose

The purpose of the Relationship Dynamics and Social Life (RDSL) project was to investigate individual personality traits, attitudes and behaviors, social processes, and types of romantic relationships that lead to early and/or unintended pregnancy during the transition to adulthood. Investigators sought to capture dynamic characteristics in many domains of social life that are likely to change rapidly in early adulthood.

Study Design View help for Study Design

Genesee County, Michigan was selected for the RDSL study due to the significant number of African Americans residing there, and because the area is characterized by significant variation in economic circumstances, allowing the collection of data from poor African Americans, poor Whites, middle-class African Americans, and middle-class Whites within a single geographic area. The research team focused on women aged 18 to 22 because these ages are characterized by the highest rates of unintended pregnancy as well as significant instability and change in the dynamic determinants of unintended pregnancy. The geographically concentrated sample also facilitated and maximized investigator involvement.

The first component of data collection for the RDSL study was a 60-minute face-to-face survey interview, which focused on topics including socio-demographic characteristics, attitudes, relationship characteristics and history, and contraceptive use and pregnancy history. In short, the baseline interview collected information about present and past experiences. The baseline data collection produced 1,003 interviews, achieving an 84 percent response rate and a respondent-level cooperation rate of 94 percent. The baseline survey was administered from March 2008 through July 2009.

Additionally, a series of three supplemental surveys were administered during the two and a half year journal period. These surveys covered a wide range of topics such as poverty, employment, media consumption, mental health, violence, personality traits, contraceptive myths, as well as a wide range of attitudes and beliefs about social life. Response rates for the three supplemental surveys were 65 percent, 60 percent, and 57 percent, respectively. The first supplement survey was administered from May 2009 to June 2009; the second supplement survey was administered from April 2010 to May 2010; and the third supplement survey was administered from July 2011 to August 2011.

Finally, the second major component of data collection, which focused on the dynamic, prospective measurement of pregnancy desires, contraceptive use, pregnancy, and relationship characteristics and behaviors such as commitment, sex, and contraceptive use, was collected in a weekly journal format. Respondents were invited to participate in the journal-based survey every week for two and a half years following their participation in the baseline interview. The journal instrument used information from prior weeks to drive skip patterns so that a minimum number of questions were asked each week. Questions measuring concepts that are less dynamic, such as questions regarding attitudes and beliefs toward marriage, children, and contraceptive use were asked quarterly rather than weekly. Of the 1,003 women interviewed, 99 percent agreed to participate in the weekly journal data collection (N=992). 92 percent had access to the Internet and usually completed the journal online each week. The remaining eight percent called in to the University of Michigan Survey Research Center's phone lab to complete their weekly journals. Respondents were allowed to switch mode (from Internet to phone and vice versa) at any time and for any duration.

Sample View help for Sample

To be eligible to participate in the Relationship Dynamics and Social Life (RDSL) Study, women had to be 18 or 19 years old and residents of Genesee County, Michigan at the time they were first sampled. An exception to this rule was made for women temporarily living outside the county to attend school, job training, and related reasons.

The sampling frame was the Michigan Department of State driver's license and Personal Identification Card (PID) data. The use of a list-based sample was a cost-effective alternative to a household-based sample because of the relatively sparse distribution of 18 to 19 year old women in the general population. A comparison of the driver's license and PID data by ZIP code to 2000 Census-based projections revealed 96 percent agreement between the frame count and the projections for this population.

In addition to providing an extremely high level of coverage, the Michigan Department of State also provided updated datasets every six months. To take advantage of these updates, the research team released the sample in a series of four replicates. Prior to each replicate sample's release, the frame of licensed drivers and PID card holders was updated to capture newly eligible women (those who had just turned 18) as well as 18 and 19 year old women who had moved into Genesee County, Michigan during the months since the prior replicate sample release. The length of the recruitment period for each sample release was 18 weeks: 15 weeks of general recruitment effort and a final three weeks of intensive recruitment effort.

Time Method View help for Time Method

Universe View help for Universe

Women residing in Genesee County, Michigan who were 18 to 19 years of age when first sampled in the baseline survey.

Unit(s) of Observation View help for Unit(s) of Observation

Data Type(s) View help for Data Type(s)

Mode of Data Collection View help for Mode of Data Collection

Description of Variables View help for Description of Variables

The baseline survey includes variables measuring attitudes about religion; variables measuring beliefs about risk; variables measuring the perceived prevalence of norms regarding sexual activity; variables measuring the perceived prevalence of norms regarding how young women should act; variables measuring the respondent's attitudes regarding certain types of individuals and behaviors; variables measuring sexual and non-sexual desires; variables measuring willingness to engage in sexual and non-sexual activities; variables measuring the respondent's attitudes regarding gender roles, work, consumption, premarital sex, contraception, single parenthood, cohabitation, marriage, pregnancy, childbearing, and abortion; variables asking respondents about their educational and employment histories; variables asking respondents about their pregnancy, contraceptive use, marital, and childbearing histories; variables asking respondents about their partners and their relationship history; variables measuring knowledge regarding birth control; variables measuring the respondent's personality; variables measuring perceived stress, depression, and the respondent's level of self-esteem; variables asking respondents about their income; variables regarding the characteristics of the respondent's parents and siblings; and variables relating to the interview itself, including the interview date and the duration.

The first supplement survey includes variables relating to household composition; variables relating to the respondent's relationship and marital status; variables measuring school enrollment and employment status; variables measuring income levels and sources of income; variables measuring the respondent's attitudes regarding various personal responsibilities; variables relating to self-reported financial security, nutritional security, and health; variables measuring the respondent's attitude toward pregnancy; variables regarding financial, religious, and health-seeking behaviors; variables relating to substance abuse; variables relating to perceived depression and stress; variables relating to the respondent's criminal records; and variables relating to the date, duration, and method of the interview.

The second supplement survey includes variables regarding the respondent's favorite movies, music, magazines, and television shows; variables regarding the respondent's attitudes concerning contraceptive use, birth control, single parenthood, pregnancy, cohabitation, marriage, and work; variables measuring the respondent's attitudes regarding children; variables measuring educational aspirations; variables measuring perceived stress, loneliness, and depression; variables relating to self-esteem, impulsivity, life satisfaction, and self-rated health; variables relating to the respondent's educational and employment history; variables relating to pregnancy status; variables measuring retrospective and prospective intentions relating to sexual behaviors and pregnancy; variables measuring knowledge of various forms of birth control; variables relating to the respondent's history of contracting sexually transmitted infections and diseases; variables measuring the respondent's perceptions and history regarding sexual and dating violence and victimization; variables measuring sexual orientation and identity; variables regarding which forms of media are followed by the respondent; and variables relating to the date, duration, and method of the interview.

Finally, the third supplement survey includes variables measuring the respondent's attitudes regarding achievement, nurturance, affiliation, belonging, and desire; variables measuring the respondent's attitude relating to success; variables relating to pregnancy status, birth control use, and menstrual cycle; variables relating to the respondent's address and contact information; and variables relating to the date, duration, and method of the interview.

Response Rates View help for Response Rates

84 percent (Baseline Survey); 65 percent (First Supplement Survey); 60 percent (Second Supplement Survey); 57 percent (Third Supplement Survey).

Presence of Common Scales View help for Presence of Common Scales

Several Likert-type scales were used.

Original Release Date View help for Original Release Date

2016-10-21

Version History View help for Version History

Weight View help for Weight

Data are not weighted; the datasets do not feature weight variables.